54 . THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 
SHERMAN COUNTY NOTES 
By WaArDEN JAMES STEWART, Moro, Oregon. 
The fishing streams of Sherman County consist of the Columbia, 
John Day and Deschutes Rivers, which form the boundaries of this 
county on three sides, Besides these there are Buck Hollow, Pine 
Hollow and Grass Valley Creeks, each of which is from twenty to 
thirty miles in length. Although these are the principal streams, 
there are a number of smaller ones running into the John Day and 
Deschutes in which there are a considerable number of trout. Buck 
Hollow, Pine Hollow and Grass Valley creeks all carry a good deal of 
water at all seasons and were formerly fine fishing streams, but have 
been badly fished out—blasted out and netted out—for lack of pro- 
tection in the past. We hope, however, to be able to get some trout 
fry to stock both these creeks and the Descrutes River next season. 
We are also anxious to get some catfish to stock the lower part of 
the John Day, which is devoid of any kind of food fish of value, 
except a few salmon trout in the fall of the year, on their way to 
the spawning grounds on the upper reaches of the stream, and these 
cannot be caught with hook and line. 
This river forms the boundary line between Sherman and Gilliam 
counties and for the greater part of the year is so muddy and full 
of sediment that it would be hopeless to try to stock it with trout, 
although I believe that on the headwaters in Grant County, where the 
water is clear, trout would do well. 
The fishing streams of Gilliam County consist of the Columbia 
and the John Day Rivers, which form its northern and western 
boundaries, and the lower part of Williow Creek, Rock Creek, Hay 
Creek and Thirty Mile Creek and their tributaries. As each of these 
streams is from thirty to forty or more miles in length and has 
numerous tributaries it will be seen that they are, or rather, have 
been fine fishing streams, but like the streams of Sherman County, 
are now badly fished out and need restocking. A great deal of the 
damage here to fishing has been caused by the irigating ditches, of 
which there are many, and few of which are screened. We expect, 
however, to have this matter attended to before next sason’s irrigating 
starts, after which it will be in order to get the streams restocked 
again. fe 
The fishing streams of Wheeler County consist of the John Day 
River, Butter Creek, Pine Creek and Bridge Creek, and their tribu- 
taries, of which there are many as these creeks head in the Blue 
Mountains and carry a good deal of water at all seasons. Besides 
these, there are numerous smaller and shorter creeks in this county, 
most of which also head in the mountains and empty into the John 
Day, which flows nearly through the county. Most of these streams 
have mountain trout in them. But here, as in Gilliam County, there 
are a large number of irrigating ditches, few of which are screened, 
so great numbers of fish are lost. We also hope to get this matter 
remedied and give the fish a chance so that in time, with adequate 
protection and some restocking there will be fine fishing in the streams 
of this county. 
I see by an article in the last issue of The Oregon Sportsman, 
written by Warden McKay, of Bend, that East Lake and Paulina 
Lake in his district were stocked in 1912 with Rainbow trout, and in 
June last trout were caught there that weighed 814 pounds. I also 
see by the same article that Hastern Brook trout were planted in the 
